Thursday, April 28, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of key members of their team’s quests for conference titles, Western Washington junior Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks and Cal Poly Humboldt sophomore Kealey Scott head the list of 39 honorees on the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing All-Academic Team, presented by Barnes & Noble College.

Both rowers amassed 4.0 GPAs while maintaining the balance between academics and athletics. Ruhlin-Hicks, who has a 4.00 as a political science major, has been in the No. 7 seat in the Vikings’ Varsity 8+ for three of four regattas this season. She helped lead the Vikings to a victory at the season-opening PLU Invitational on Mar. 5, rowing in the No. 6 seat.

Scott, who has a 4.00 GPA as a child development and family relations major, has rowed in the stroke seat for the Lumberjacks’ Varsity 8+ for the majority of the season. She was in that position for Cal Poly Humboldt’s Varsity 8+ victory at the Falcon Regatta on Apr. 9 as well as the crew’s two victories at the Covered Bridge Regatta on Apr. 16.

The duo was among 14 student-athletes on the All-Academic Team with a 3.8 GPA or higher.

Ruhlin-Hicks was among 19 repeat selections to the squad. Ten rowers are three-time selections, including five student-athletes from Western Washington.

Seattle Pacific led all institutions with 12 selections to the All-Academic Team. Central Oklahoma had 11 selections while both Cal Poly Humboldt and Western Washington had eight selections.

To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, presented by Barnes & Noble College, nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second year at the nominating institution.